Giants' Lincecum now a Cy of relief

Updated 11:21 am, Monday, October 8, 2012

Tim Lincecum wasn't scored on in his two innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Tim Lincecum wasn't scored on in his two innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 2 of 2

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum meets with reporters before the game, as the San Francisco Giants prepare to take on the Cincinnati Reds in game two of the National League Divisional Series at AT&T Park San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday October 7, 2012.

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum meets with reporters before the game, as the San Francisco Giants prepare to take on the Cincinnati Reds in game two of the National League Divisional Series at AT&T Park San

A decent time to interview a ballplayer is during or after batting practice as he walks off the field. Sunday, that's when a beat writer asked Ryan Vogelsong to address his status as the Giants' Game 3 starter.

"I'll talk Monday," he said.

No worries. The world can wait a day on Vogelsong.

Tim Lincecum is a different matter. When he tried to exit the field after BP, he was mobbed by reporters. Not only did manager Bruce Bochy announce that Vogelsong is pitching Tuesday, he announced Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner and four-time Opening Day starter, would be a reliever until further notice.

No knock on Vogelsong, a wonderful story in his own right, but who's not in the rotation might be a bigger deal than who is, at least in this case.

"I'm just trying to help the team," said Lincecum, who stopped for an interview hours before he made his first relief appearance since Game 6 of the 2010 National League Championship Series. "If that means being in the bullpen, that means being in the bullpen."

With the Giants trailing 4-0, Lincecum was summoned for the sixth inning, and he retired Jay Bruce, Scott Rolen and Ryan Hanigan on 13 pitches, and roaring Giants fans were glad to see Lincecum succeed again, albeit in a lesser role.

They cheered some more when Lincecum breezed through the seventh, yielding only a Brandon Phillips double. The Reds piled on after Lincecum left. Bochy said he pulled him after 25 pitches to keep him fresh to relieve or even start later in the series.

Still, it's amazing that two short years after Timmy the Kid was an absolute postseason force, winning all three Game 1s and the World Series clincher, he was surpassed in the rotation by Barry Zito and clearly ranks as the No. 5 starter, based on season stats.

And to think, Lincecum once was the Giants' best pitcher since Juan Marichal. But Bochy refused to turn nostalgic when picking his playoff starters, and Lincecum refused to play the I'm-the-Cy-Young-king-and-you're-not card.

"I'm not going to be that guy who's throwing a tantrum just because I didn't get what I want or I think I'm not getting what I deserve," Lincecum said. "It's not about that. Right now, it's about the team, and it's about winning. It's not about stats or individual awards."

At least until the season's over. If the Reds win the Division Series and Lincecum doesn't get a start, what's the message moving forward? Does he take it as a slight, play out his contract and bolt as a free agent a year from now? Or does he spend the offseason focused on regaining his ace-hood as a Giant?

"That's going to be something I'll go over with myself and obviously with my father (Chris) and whoever I think is going to be there to help me immediately in the offseason," Lincecum said. "Right now, I'm working on what I need to be out of the bullpen or what they ask me to do."

Lincecum is a 15-game loser with the highest ERA (5.18) by a Giants pitcher with at least 30 starts since Livan Hernandez in 2001, and his final two regular-season starts were bad: 11 earned runs in 10 innings. He led the league in losses and runs surrendered and issued the second-most walks.

Vogelsong was an All-Star a year ago and gave up one earned run in his last three starts.

Enough said.

"He's been through a grind his whole life, so to come out and throw two great seasons like he has this year and last year spoke volumes to what he's about and what he's committed to," Lincecum said of Vogelsong. "You can see the intensity in his face that this is what he's about. I think he's been waiting for this moment to get a chance to do that."

Two years ago, Zito was omitted from the playoff rotation, and he admitted Sunday, "It was very difficult. It's a huge kind of rub on your pride, and it's tough because you want to help your ballclub."

In retrospect, he said, he didn't take Bochy's decision personally.

"I couldn't be angry with him," Zito said. "My pride and ego could be angry with him, but I saw what I did the last six weeks, and I knew he had to pick a guy who could help the ballclub more than I."

Lincecum probably feels similar emotions. For now, he gets it.

What it means to Lincecum and the Giants next year and beyond is another story.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.